DOCSLIB.ORG

EU Blue Card: a Promising Tool Among Labour Migration Policies? a Comparative Analysis of Selected Countries

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
EU Blue Card: a Promising Tool Among Labour Migration Policies? a Comparative Analysis of Selected Countries A Service of Leibniz-Informationszentrum econstor Wirtschaft Leibniz Information Centre Make Your Publications Visible. zbw for Economics Bellini, Simona Working Paper EU Blue Card: A promising tool among labour migration policies? A comparative analysis of selected countries Working Paper, No. 76/2016 Provided in Cooperation with: Berlin Institute for International Political Economy (IPE) Suggested Citation: Bellini, Simona (2016) : EU Blue Card: A promising tool among labour migration policies? A comparative analysis of selected countries, Working Paper, No. 76/2016, Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE), Berlin This Version is available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/148414 Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen: Terms of use: Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Documents in EconStor may be saved and copied for your Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden. personal and scholarly purposes. Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle You are not to copy documents for public or commercial Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich purposes, to exhibit the documents publicly, to make them machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen. publicly available on the internet, or to distribute or otherwise use the documents in public. Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, If the documents have been made available under an Open gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort Content Licence (especially Creative Commons Licences), you genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. may exercise further usage rights as specified in the indicated licence. www.econstor.eu Institute for International Political Economy Berlin EU Blue Card: a promising tool among labour migration policies? A comparative analysis of selected countries Author: Simona Bellini Working Paper, No. 76/2016 Editors: Sigrid Betzelt Trevor Evans Eckhard Hein Hansjörg Herr Birgit Mahnkopf Christina Teipen Achim Truger Markus Wissen EU Blue Card: a promising tool among labour migration policies? A comparative analysis of selected countries Simona Bellini Berlin School of Economics and Law Abstract In 2007 the Commission proposed a Directive aimed exclusively at third-country nationals moving to Europe for the purpose of highly qualified employment that would set up a harmonized entry procedure, lay down common residence conditions and facilitate mobility through Europe. The Directive, named Blue Card, was meant to make Europe more attractive for highly qualified migrants by offering a fast-track entry procedure and social benefits in the EU. The Commission, despite the reluctance of Member States, managed to push through the Directive, which was finally approved in 2009. In the first three years since the Blue Card first entered into force in the majority of Member States in 2012, no more than 30,352 cards have been issued, of which about 26,200 by a single Member State. Why? Through a detailed analysis of the conditions set by the Directive and their comparison with the ones posed by the national labour migration schemes - in particular in Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands -, this paper aims to demonstrate that the causes of failure are not to search in the Blue Card instrument per se , but rather in the ways this has been implemented in the single Member States. Keywords: European Blue Card, labour migration, third-country migrants, labour shortage, high-skilled migrants, European economic competitiveness, free movement of labour, harmonization, knowledge economy, reallocation of workers, single market, sovereignty, shared competences. JEL code: K37, J20, J23, J31, J61, J88 Contact: [email protected] Acknowledgments: My gratitude goes to Prof. Martin Kronauer of the Berlin School of Economics and Law for his valuable guidance and his constructive criticism throughout my work. I am grateful and indebted to Dr. Mechthild Baumann of the European Academy Berlin for suggesting the initial ideas necessary to move the first steps in my study. 1 1. Introduction Labour migration has become inevitable in a European Union without frontiers. The free movement of workers is not only necessary but also essential in an open economy in order to guarantee a better allocation of resources within the EU, which is of paramount importance in a European context of population ageing and birth rates declining. The free movement of labour is one of the fundamental freedoms granted to European citizens: Europe needs to expand this right to third-country migrants legally working in one Member State if it wants, on the one hand, to increase its attractiveness with respect to highly qualified migrants and on the other hand, to be a promoter of equality of rights, as enshrined in the Treaty and the Charter. A Commission proposal in 2007 was intended to pursue these aims by creating a level-playing field at the EU level to facilitate and harmonize the admission of highly qualified third-country nationals and by promoting their efficient (re-)allocation on the EU labour market. The Blue Card proposal was exclusively aimed at third-country nationals with high qualifications already in possession of a job contract for a highly skilled and highly payed profession by a European employer. The scheme is based on the rationale that the EU is stronger when it works together and that an EU-wide single labour market would make the EU more attractive instead of 28 separate labour markets; however, European institutions’ ambitions to create harmonized and coherent labour migration policies in order to increase the EU’s appeal to skilled third-country nationals came up against Member States’ reluctance to cede responsibility for labour market access regulation. The Blue Card is kind of a puzzle: while challenges facing Member States in terms of labour shortages and ageing population are similar, their response to a harmonized highly skilled immigration policy varies considerably. Their national self-interests and their reluctance to cede sovereignty on migration matters, coupled with their fear of an overwhelming wave of (low-skilled) migrants flowing into Europe, led to an almost insignificant European migration scheme to attract highly skilled migrants that represents the limit to further integration: instead of representing a signal to highly skilled migrants and a factor of competition for the EU, the Blue Card demonstrates the difficulties to greater integration and the reluctance of Member States to cede more responsibility to the EU level. Light will be shed on these matters by firstly assessing the enthusiasm of the Commission in its struggle to push the Blue Card proposal through, the reasons for the low support on the part of national governments and the surprising final approval for a considerably watered-down version of what should have been a European-wide harmonized approach to labour migration. The main body of this study is concerned with a comparative analysis of the European Directive weighed against the national approaches to third-country labour migration of three sample Member States, looking notably at the number of national permits and Blue Cards granted, entry conditions and rights granted by each scheme. 2 2. Motives behind the Commission proposal The main arguments in favour of such a scheme are of different types: a business argument, since there is need for highly skilled migrants to fill in the shortages experienced in Europe; a demographic argument, since the ageing population would make it difficult to sustain economic growth in Europe; a competition argument, since European countries are lagging behind most other OECD countries when it comes to attracting highly skilled migrants; and an inclusion argument, since Europe needed to build a more dynamic knowledge-based economy and contribute to an inclusive economic growth in the run up to 2020, as stated in the Lisbon Strategy. a. The business argument The business argument was sustained by the lack of skills, competencies and knowledge experienced in many Member States that cannot be provided by the domestic workforce in the short run, nor generated quickly enough since changes in the domestic education and training system operate on long timescales (Migrationsverket /EMN 2013: 9). “Although immigration can make an important contribution to labour force growth, its role in counterbalancing the effects of population ageing will depend on the capacity of countries to match labour needs to migrants’ characteristics. In this regard, more needs to be done to better use migrants’ skills and to adapt labour migration management systems to employers’ needs” (OECD/EU 2014: 15). Labour migration is the only area where policies can have a direct influence on the composition of migrant flows by selecting migrants based on educational level. Although the privilege was given to highly qualified workers, it was acknowledged that the needs of the EU market covered “all levels of skills and qualifications” (EC 2007e: 8) and that the proposed instrument targeted at this single category should be “part of a comprehensive package of measures addressing different areas of action” ( ibid ). b. The demographic argument As for the second reason mentioned, the Commission recognized in its proposal for the Blue Card that the size of the working age population “will decrease by 48 million by 2050 and
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Jordan – Palestinians – West Bank – Passports – Citizenship – Fatah
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: JOR35401 Country: Jordan Date: 27 October 2009 Keywords: Jordan – Palestinians – West Bank – Passports – Citizenship – Fatah This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. Please provide background on the issue of Jordanian citizenship for persons of West Bank Palestinian descent. 2. What is the overall situation for Palestinian citizens of Jordan? 3. Have there been any crackdowns upon Fatah members over the last 15 years? 4. What kind of relationship exists between Fatah and the Jordanian authorities? RESPONSE 1. Please provide background on the issue of Jordanian citizenship for persons of West Bank Palestinian descent. Most Palestinians in Jordan hold a Jordanian passport of some type but the status accorded different categories of Palestinians in Jordan varies, as does the manner and terminology through which different sources classify and discuss Palestinians in Jordan. The webpage of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) states that: “All Palestine refugees in Jordan have full Jordanian citizenship with the exception of about 120,000 refugees originally from the Gaza Strip, which up to 1967 was administered by Egypt”; the latter being “eligible for temporary Jordanian passports, which do not entitle them to full citizenship rights such as the right to vote and employment with the government”.
    [Show full text]
  • USHMM Finding
    http://collections.ushmm.org Contact [email protected] for further information about this collection BLUE CARD, INC. RECORDS, 1940-2015 2016.161.1 United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW Washington, DC 20024-2126 Tel. (202) 479-9717 e-mail: [email protected] Descriptive summary Title: Blue Card, Inc. records Dates: 1940-2015 Accession number: 2016.161.1 Creator: Blue Card Inc. Extent: 5.17 linear feet (7 boxes, 1 oversize box) Repository: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Archives, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC 20024-2126 Abstract: The collection contains correspondence, minutes of meetings, brochures, news clippings, and printed material, documenting the history of The Blue Card, Inc., in particular its role as a New York- based charity that aided Jewish-German emigres who had fled Europe during the Holocaust. The collection includes minutes, by-laws and articles of incorporation from its inaugural meeting in September 1943; minutes of membership, board of directors, and executive committee meetings; newspaper and magazine clippings about the organization; correspondence, chiefly related to donations to the organization; and publicity and promotional material created by the organization, including holiday calendars, postcards, brochures, and the examples of the namesake "blue card" that donors received following their contributions, among other materials. Languages: English, German Administrative Information Access: Collection is open for use, but is stored offsite. Please contact the Reference Desk more than seven days prior to visit in order to request access. Reproduction and use: Collection is available for use. Material may be protected by copyright. Please contact reference staff for further information.
    [Show full text]
  • C:\Documents and Settings\Stan Schroeder\My Documents\Shir
    Shir Notes The Official Newsletter of Congregation Shir Ami Volume 15, Number 5, May 2017. Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Rabbi’s Column . Events I had a fairly frustrating experience trying to correct a of the Month problem created by my television and internet provider. Shabbat services at The details aren’t important, and after about 90 minutes de Toledo High School we got the situation resolved. Saturday, May 6 - 10:30 am But I had the opportunity to use the chat feature to access live people who Birthday Shabbat could guide me through the process. Saturday, May 27 - 10:30 am Anniversary Shabbat And every now and then, a comment would appear in the typed window: “Not --------------------------------------------- to worry.” JWW Walk to End Genocide It actually had a bit of a calming effect on me. When I got a little frustrated, Sunday, May 7, 11:30 am my helper posted that sentence. Even when I was doing fine, I was reminded 1000 Oaks Civic Arts Plaza that s/he had everything under control and I had nothing to worry about. Our Team is participating in this annual Canejo Valley event. See It occurred to me that it would be nice to have that person on the other end article on page 6 or call Rae of the internet connection follow me around, whispering in my ear, “Not to Wazana at (818) 881-5549. worry” when I would begin to do exactly that! --------------------------------------------- Mother’s/Father’s Day Social That I shouldn’t worry when a student was starting to get on my nerves.
    [Show full text]
  • THE BLUE CARD CALENDAR 5 7 8 1 the BLUE CARD Is a Charitable Organization That Has Been Aiding Holocaust Survivors Since 1934
    THE BLUE CARD CALENDAR 5 7 8 1 THE BLUE CARD is a charitable organization that has been aiding Holocaust survivors since 1934. It is dedicated to the support of European Jewish survivors and their descendants in this country, who still suffer from the aftereffects of Nazi persecution, are sick or emotionally unstable, have been unable to achieve economic independence, or have lost it through sickness or old age; in many cases the Holocaust has deprived them of family. The Blue Card’s activities aren’t duplicated by any other Jewish welfare agencies. During the year 2019, The Blue Card distributed nearly $2.7 million. This brings the grant total since The Blue Card’s inception to over $40 million. THE BLUE CARD continues to receive four-star ratings from Charity Navigator, a distinction awarded to only four percent of all charities. The Blue Card is Better Business Bureau (BBB) accredited. THE BLUE CARD mirrors the social conscience of our community. We hope it will be important to you, and that you will remember it in your last will. Your contribution is fully tax deductible. THE BLUE CARD has been publishing this calendar for its friends and friends-to-be for more than 50 years in order to remind them, throughout the year, that there is an organization which is always ready to render assistance to our neediest. PLEASE SEE the inside back cover of this calendar for more information about The Blue Card. A copy of the most recent financial report may be obtained from The Blue Card, Inc., 171 Madison Ave.
    [Show full text]
  • Surviving Surviving,” Prepared As a Class Assignment by HAFTR Eighth Grader Joe Klein
    The Jewish Star Independent and original reporting from the Orthodox communities of Long Island VOL. 8, NO. 25 JUNE 19, 2009 | 27 SIVAN 5769 www.thejewishstar.com GET OUTTA TOWN INWOOD CAMPUS A RELIGIOUS EXCHANGE OU fair highlights Jewish communities Bnot Shulamith gains zoning approval The Kosher Bookworm Page 3 Page 6 Page 8 IN MY VIEW Tuition by Iran is not a the nickel democracy Internet toolbar will help fund Jewish education BY MICAH D. HALPERN BY YAFFI SPODEK mericans have been duped, An easy opportunity to help your school raise hoodwinked by mainstream money may be only a mouse-click away thanks to a new media, fed false hope and pro- fundraising venture from the Orthodox Union. A vided with erroneous informa- For every single click on the OU’s Education Fund tion. Toolbar — scheduled to launch in the next few weeks I need to set the record straight. — a corporate sponsor will donate five cents to the OU Iran is not a democracy. Education Fund, which will be distributed to yeshivot Because the Iranians use the and day schools around the coun- terms and adopt the trappings of try. democracy, does not make it a democ- “Our goal is to send the tool- racy. Because the American media bar to every Jewish home in would like Iran to be a democracy, America,” said Rabbi Saul Zucker, does not make it a democracy. Because director of the OU’s recently the White House developed department of day school and educational services. wishes for a Image courtesy Joe Klein “The toolbar gets loaded onto democratically Yetta, a Holocaust survivor briefly overcome with grief, during an interview in the documentary run Iran, does your desktop and it costs the user “Surviving Surviving,” prepared as a class assignment by HAFTR eighth grader Joe Klein.
    [Show full text]
  • SOCIAL ACTION Tikkun Olam Special Edition
    SOCIAL ACTION Tikkun Olam Special Edition It is not upon you to complete the task of mending the world, nor are you free from trying to do your part. ‒Pirkei Avot, 2:21 “Who is wise? The one who learns from all people… “Who is mighty? The one who subdues the evil inclination… “Who is rich? The one who rejoices in his portion…. Who is honored? The one who honors other human beings….” Pirkei Avot 4:1 2 CONTENTS Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4 At-A-Glance ............................................................................................................................. 6 Celebrate ............................................................................................................................................. 7 Tips for a greener simcha ........................................................................................................ 8 Simcha food donations ................................................................................................... 10 Social Action at WJC ........................................................................................................................... 11 One-day Mitzvah activities ........................................................................................................ 12 Feeding the Hungry ..................................................................................................................... 14 How we can help in our community ............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Holocaust Compensation Payments: Effect on Eligibility for Medicaid, SSI and Other U.S. Federal Benefits
    Selfhelp Community Services, Inc. 520 Eighth Avenue, 5th floor New York, NY 10018 Tel.: 212.971.7600/7658 Fax: 212.947.8737 Email: [email protected] www.selfhelp.net Evelyn Frank Legal Resources Program Valerie J. Bogart, Director HOLOCAUST COMPENSATION PAYMENTS EFFECT ON ELIGIBILITY FOR MEDICAID, SSI & OTHER U.S. FEDERAL BENEFITS A law passed in Congress in 1994 called the Victims of Nazi Persecution Act of 1994 creates a special right for survivors of the Holocaust. When they apply for federally funded benefits or services that are based on financial need, the payments they have received based on their status as a victim of Nazi persecution are not counted in determining their financial eligibility for these federally funded benefits. This is an exception to the usual rule that counts all income and assets when determining eligibility for programs based on need. Part A of this brochure explains these rules. Part B explains how to find out how much restitution you have received over the years, in order to show how much of your savings do not count in determining your financial need. PART A. THE RULES ABOUT DISREGARDING RESTITUTION PAYMENTS What does the law actually say? “Payments made to individuals because of their status as victims of Nazi persecution shall be disregarded in determining eligibility for and the amount of benefits or services to be provided under any Federal or federally assisted program which provides benefits or services based, in whole or in part, on need.” Victims of Nazi Persecution Act of 1994. Public Law 103-286 (108 Stat.
    [Show full text]
  • Immigration Global Newsletter: February 2015
    Immigration Global Newsletter: February 2015 FEATURE ARTICLES: EU BLUE CARDS: BELGIUM, FRANCE, ITALY –This article provides an overview of three countries’ policies on EU Blue Cards. VANDER ELST IMPLEMENTATION IN THE EUROPEAN UNION – This article provides an overview of Vander Elst implementation in several countries. COUNTRY UPDATES: 1. BRAZIL – The Mercosur Agreement on residence is implemented for Ecuadorians. Brazil also issued a new Service Order on time of service for a foreign company. 2. CANADA – Canada’s new “Express Entry” permanent residence immigration process is now open to applications. Also, a new immigrant investor venture capital pilot program is expected to be launched soon. 3. CHINA – The United States and China reach agreement to extend visas for short-term business travelers, tourists, students, and exchange visitors. Also included, Handling Procedures Related to Entry of Foreigners for Short-term Work Tasks 4. FRANCE – New work permit forms are effective January 1, 2015. 5. INDIA – India has issued a new electronic visa. 6. ITALY – The Italian government has released new quotas for apprenticeship and internship programs. Also, failure to report presence in Italy will now result in fines. The Italian government has also released new quotas for subordinate work and autonomous work. 7. MEXICO – The new “Temporary Migration Regularization Program” took effect January 13. 8. POLAND – Poland regards special economic zones as an important instrument to stimulate foreign investment in Poland. There are new investment opportunities in Polish real estate 12 years after Poland’s accession to the EU. 9. RUSSIA – Various developments have been announced. 10. UNITED KINGDOM – Several developments have been announced.
    [Show full text]
  • Ways to Help
    WAYS TO HELP Donate: • In honor • In memory • Bequest/Planned Giving • Matching grants PRESIDENT DIRECTORS Gia Machlin Jonathan Alter Donations can be made online at www.bluecardfund.org, Mark Babyatsky American Express MembersGive, AmazonSmile, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Elizabeth Bergstein eBay Giving Works or by mailing a check to: Michael D. Lissner Louis Berkowitz Sharon Cohen The Blue Card, Inc. VICE CHAIRMAN Ronald Elton 171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1405 Orit Hodarkovsky Peter Friedmann Peggy Heine New York, NY 10016 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Elinor Heller Elie Rubinstein Susan Jacobson Benjamin Jaffe VICE PRESIDENTS Helen Kober Volunteer: Harriet Abramson Lini Lipton • At The Blue Card office Frank Harris Zeva Oelbaum • Visit a Holocaust survivor at Arie Hochberg Heidi Rieger David Wrobel Elizabeth Shamir home or in the hospital Eve Stieglitz • Support the B’nai Mitzvah TREASURER Caron Trakman Simcha project Arie Hochberg Betti Weimersheimer • Deliver holiday food packages SECRETARY RABBINIC COMMITTEE Patricia Lenkov Rabbi Aaron Goldscheider Rabbi Steven Kushner ASSISTANT SECRETARY Erika Teutsch HONORARY DIRECTORS Berthold Bilski PRESIDENTS EMERITI Seth Glickenhaus Mark Bilski Charles Grodin Join our team: Leora Kahn Max Liebmann Mimi Lieber Eric Mayer • Marathons: New York City, Doris Schechter Atlanta, Miami and more Margit Ulrich • Bike New York Albert Wojnilower EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Masha Pearl The Blue Card, Inc. The Blue Card, Inc. 171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1405 171 Madison Avenue, Suite 1405 New York, NY 10016 New York, NY 10016 212.239.2251 212.239.2251 [email protected] [email protected] The Blue Card’s 2013 Grants at a Glance Description of The Blue Card’s Programs Meet Emily K.
    [Show full text]
  • 6.1 Residence Permit – Researcher
    Guide for Residence and Employment of International Researchers as at: January 2015 1 Foreword __________________________________________________________________ 1 2 What is meant by research? Who is a researcher?__________________________________ 3 3 Information for employers and Austrian research institutions ________________________ 3 3.1 Who can employ researchers? ____________________________________________________ 3 3.2 What must the employer and the researchers observe during the residence procedure? _____ 3 3.3 In which cases must the research institution be certified? ______________________________ 4 3.4 What does the certification procedure look like? _____________________________________ 4 3.5 Information for research institutions that do not require certification ____________________ 5 3.6 Information for research institutions that do not wish to be certified _____________________ 5 3.7 What is a Hosting Agreement? ____________________________________________________ 5 3.8 Example of a Hosting Agreement __________________________________________________ 6 4 EEA and Swiss nationals ______________________________________________________ 7 5 Residence of third-country nationals for up to 6 months _____________________________ 7 5.1 Researchers without declaration of liability of the research institution ____________________ 7 5.2 Researchers with declaration of liability of the research institution ______________________ 8 5.3 Job-seeking visa for particularly highly qualified persons _______________________________ 9 6 Residence
    [Show full text]
  • Of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo
    Look: Inside: Don’t Miss: ! Passover Springtime in Purim Punims ach Happy Pes Events Israel Pages Page 11 Page 7 41, 42, 43 The Award Winning A publication of the Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo THE EWISH JOURNAL J OF WNY Buffalo, Israel & the Jewish World April 2015 | Nisan-Iyar 5775 Yom Hashoah 70 Years Since Liberation April 19 - Pages 4-5 Yom Ha’atzmaut Israel’s 67th Birthday April 26 - Page 6 Enjoying Life Over 50 In Western New York EXPO | SPRING 2015 n Experts in services A FREE EVENT & resources geared specifically to THURSDAY, those enjoying life APRIL 30th over 50 in WNY 9AM-1:30PM n Free health screenings n Free parking n Giveaways every hour n Live music n Door prizes @ MICHAEL’S BANQUET n Hot Off the Press FACILITY food truck 4885 Southwestern Blvd, n And more! Hamburg, NY FOR QUESTIONS No Registration Necessary CALL 972-2244 Read the next issue of Forever Sponsored by Young for more details! What’s Inside... THE EWISH JOURNAL J OF WNY Published by The Jewish Federation of Greater Buffalo April 2015 2640 North Forest Road Getzville, NY 14068 Inmates waving a homemade American 716-204-2241 April has blown into Western New Flag greet U.S. Seventh Army Troops upon www.jfedbflo.com York, and what a festive April it will be this their arrival at the Allach concentration year! Passover starts the month off – the camp. Photo by Arland B. Musser. Photo first Seder is April 3--as we try to imagine reprinted by permission- Photo Credit United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ourselves as slaves in Egypt—“Mitzrayim”— courtesy of National Archives and Records Interim Executive Director ..........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Spring 2015 Volume 29, Number 1
    SPRING 2015 VOLUME 29, NUMBER 1 A Passover message from Speech by American Gathering our President Chairman Roman Kent at By Sam E. Bloch others remember all those Auschwitz Commemoration who perished, lonely, and ach year at the abandoned by a cruel world January 27, 2015 EPassover Seder, we that stood by in silence recite the Haggadah’s and indifference. Seventy resident Komorowski, my fellow most important teaching: years later, our memories PAuschwitz survivors and guests – in each generation we are not extinguished. When I am often asked how long I was in should see ourselves as if the German Nazi murderers Auschwitz… my answer is I do not we were slaves in Egypt. and their accomplices know. What I do know is that a minute This passage serves as Sam E. Bloch destroyed our homes and in Auschwitz was like an entire day, a powerful moment for our communities, and a day was like a year, and a month an us, survivors of the Holocaust and our annihilated, with so much cruelty and eternity. How many eternities can one families, because we continue to bear the barbarism, six million of our martyrs – person have in a single lifetime – I don’t wounds of the bitter years of the Holocaust innocent men, women, children – they know the answer to that either. when we were enslaved, tortured, and lost obliterated their hopes and dreams, and the Zachor, Pamjentaj, Remember… our precious families. infinite creativity, beauty, and knowledge This was the word my father Seventy years ago, we were liberated that they could have contributed to the frequently uttered to me during the from oppression and death – but this betterment of our world.
    [Show full text]